wilm.cup
During a film project, the idea suddenly came up: “To create an aesthetic product that touches you (on the lips) every day” – and is only possible with 3D printing. Money has never been a driving force for me. It always came last on the list of motivating things. For me, the driving force has always been joy in my projects. That was when the wilm.cup was born in October 2018.
After a year, the first prototype of the wilm.cup was ready and printed. Numerous optimizations in construction and design followed. Among other things, the upper rim of the cup has been optimized so that it sits perfectly on the lips, the inside has been turned and polished by hand to a high gloss. The double wall of the espresso cup has been optimized so that espresso filled up to 248°F / 120°C isolates the temperature of the outer wall to the touch. The bionic floor was designed for ideal drainage of the rinsing water. The production process has been changed several times in order to meet the high standards of quality and feel. What nobody knew at the time of the first prototype: it would take another three years before the series-ready espresso cup shines with the finest crema.
wilm.tap
When redesigning a friend’s bathroom and kitchen, the focus was always on the faucet. It should be special and the focus of the room. Unconventional in style and function. And provide magical moments for visitors. Inspired by nature and a symbiosis of biology and technology. And the design should not be limited by the manufacturing process. The first sketch was drawn and it quickly became clear that only 3D printing could be considered for the manufacturing process. That was the hour of birth of the wilm.tap in September 2019.
After two and a half years, the first prototype of the wilm.tap was ready and printed. Continuous improvements in construction and design followed. The high demands on design and function quickly turned out to be a big challenge. The biggest challenge was to get a perfect water jet without making any changes to the design – and also with different water pressures without an aerator! A magical construction and many many tests made these requirements possible. The wilm.tap became reality. However, there was one final hurdle: a distortion at the upper end of the component, which arose due to the complexity of the component. Pins were constructed for stabilization and post-cured in the oven. Complex calculations and simulations were also carried out for the next printing test. The efforts paid off and the wilm.tap was ready for series production.
collect. transform. refine. metamorphize. Experience the wilm.cup now.
Made in Lichtenfels – from the world capital of 3D printing.
Metal 3D printing was invented in Lichtenfels (Germany) in the late 1990s.
In September 2019, the new company headquarters were opened at the main location in Lichtenfels. GE has invested more than 100 million euros in the 40,000 square meter “3D campus”.
CEO & Founder Stephan Wilm has been an entrepreneur since 1998 and with the wilm.cup he has fulfilled a great wish to launch his own product with full identification.